**4. Utilisation of banana bioactives as nutraceuticals and food ingredients**

According to the Science Forum, nutraceuticals is defined as a "diet supplement that delivers a concentrated form of a biologically active component of food in a non-food matrix to enhance health" [83]. Anyasi et al. [58] in their study further added that nutraceutical can also be extracted from a different product derived from the food and pharmaceutical industry, herbal and dietary supplement market, and the pharmaceutical/agribusiness and nutrition conglomerates. Raw banana shows higher amount of functional ingredients such as dietary fibre, resistant starch and total starch, which allows banana to impart health benefits to humans when incorporated in food products [84]. **Table 3** highlighted the effects of banana bioactive compounds as a value-added ingredient in food processing. It is important to understand fruit maturity during preparation of banana flour to produce desirable food products. Ripe banana can be considered for industrial processing, which could result to products that are comparable to those obtained from apple, juice, fruit drinks, fermented drinks, stewed fruit, puree, marmalade, jam, flakes, confectionery, pastry, sorbets and ice-cream. Raw bananas can be considered as a source for new food innovation and development for partial or preprocessed food products like snacks and breakfast cereals [82]. Mixed pulp and peel flour from green banana has higher ash, total fibre and total phenolics than traditional wheat flour [85]. The addition of banana flour increases the indigestible fraction and the content of phenolic compounds in spaghetti [86]. Crackers containing greater amount of green banana flour showed increased antioxidant capacity [87]. The influence of green banana flour as a substitution for cassava starch on the nutrition, colour, texture and sensory qualities of snacks was reported for raw banana flour [87]. In the study, increased nutritional value including dietary fibre, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of the snacks was noted. Unripe banana peel can be incorporated in a sponge cake without imparting negative effects on the sensory quality [88]. The application of banana by-products, an underutilised renewable food biomass with potential in food and nutraceutical industry as a means of promoting green


**Table 3.**

*Use of banana bioactive compounds as value-added product.*

technology was reported [89–91]. Banana by-products such as peels are readily available for use as a source of raw materials, as they are regarded as waste during processing of foods such as jams, chips and noodles for green technology industry. Since the discovery of banana as a fruit for human consumption, there are no reports in the literature which show that it contains hazardous phytochemicals. Therefore, banana by-products preparation for usage in the food industry does not require excessive treatment as compared with other fruits by-products with potent hazardous constituents [89]. Banana peel extracts are rich in antioxidant capacity using multiple antioxidant assays. These peels are helpful in exhibiting antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria and fungi [92].

#### **5. Health benefits associated with banana bioactives**

Banana is a very common fruit in most continents of the world and is consumed essentially as food. It is the fifth most significant food source with respect to world trade. Banana has more than a few bioactives which include biogenic amines, phenolics, phytosterols and carotenoids [46, 93]. These compounds are of immense benefit to consumers due to countless positive effects they have on human health (**Table 4**). The positive effects of these compounds on human health is expected because they have antioxidative properties, hence they are efficient in reducing oxidative stresses. Banana pulp has been reported to have high anti-tumour and antioxidant potentials [57]. Consumption of bananas is advantageous to body muscles due to its high content of K. Banana is usually suggested for patients suffering from anaemia due owing to its high content of Fe. Banana is low in Na, hence it helps in regulating blood pressure [46]. The presence of syringic acid in banana was reported [92]. This compound has an antidiabetic effect and could be used in managing glycoprotein abnormalities [92]. The consumption of catechin rich banana can help build up resistance to oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), brachial artery dilation, increase plasma antioxidant activity and fat oxidation [94]. The gallic acid in banana was reported to exhibit hepatoprotective effects [95]. Serotonin in banana helps to avoid depression by altering mood and calming the body. The consumption of carotenoid rich banana is also effective in the treatment of vitamin A deficiency disorders and chronic diseases [39]. Dopamine and ascorbic acid present in banana is useful in reduction of plasma oxidative stress and enhancement of resistance to oxidative modification of LDL [56, 96]. In many

**37**

*Banana Bioactives: Absorption, Utilisation and Health Benefits*

animal trials, banana has been shown to be useful in the treatment of diabetes, due to its antihyperglycemic effect [97]. Banana is also utilised as a source of energy for sports athletes as it forms a valuable constituent in various energy drinks and dried banana bars [1]. Consumption of the fruit has also been used in the prevention of muscular contractions in athletes due to its vitamins, K and Mg contents [1].

anticancer properties

**Bioactive compounds Uses References**

improves immunity

diseases

Act as protective scavengers against oxygenderived free radicals and reactive oxygen species responsible for ageing and various

Act as antioxidants, especially in scavenging singlet oxygen, decreases the risk of certain cancers, heart problems and eye diseases;

Reduce the plasma oxidative stress and enhance the resistance to oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins; contributes towards the feelings of well-being and happiness; plays an important role in the human brain and body as a neurotransmitter with great impact on our mood, ability to concentrate and emotional stability

Lowers cholesterol level in the blood and reduce its absorption in the intestine; act as immune system modulators and also have

[56, 98–101]

[102–105]

[106, 107]

[108–110]

A number of essential bioactive compounds in bananas have been reported by different researchers. Banana holds adequate quantity of valuable bioactive compounds for health promotion. Several studies have established and verified antioxidant activity of these compounds and efficaciously used bananas in treatment of diseases and promotion of wellbeing [46]. Bananas are being currently used to produce variety of food items which are of benefit to human health. Moreover, bananas are being composited with other food products to improve the micro and macro-nutrient values, especially for food low in micro

Bananas are cultivated and utilised at different stages throughout the globe because the fruit contains both therapeutic and nutritional properties. Banana is composed of a substantial amount of beneficial bioactives which are essential for health and disease prevention. Bioactive compounds (phenolics, biogenic amines

**6. Current trends in banana bioactive utilisation**

*Bioactive compounds present in banana and their utilisation.*

and macro-nutrients [75, 97].

**7. Conclusion**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83369*

**Phenolic compounds**—gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, tannins and anthocyanins, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, ferulic, sinapic, salicylic, gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, syringic, gentisic and p-coumaric acids

**Carotenoids**—lutein, β-carotene, α-carotene, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, neoxanthin, isolutein, β-cryptoxanthin

**Phytosterols**—cycloeucalenone, cycloeucalenol, cycloartenol, stigmasterol, campesterol and

**Biogenic amines**—serotonin, dopamine

and α-cryptoxanthin

and norepinephrine

b-sitosterol

**Table 4.**


**Table 4.**

*Banana Nutrition - Function and Processing Kinetics*

Raw mango peel/*Musa acuminate Colla* AAA

*Use of banana bioactive compounds as value-added product.*

Sponge cakes

Cassava snacks

Banana muffins

Orange juice

**Table 3.**

technology was reported [89–91]. Banana by-products such as peels are readily available for use as a source of raw materials, as they are regarded as waste during processing of foods such as jams, chips and noodles for green technology industry. Since the discovery of banana as a fruit for human consumption, there are no reports in the literature which show that it contains hazardous phytochemicals. Therefore, banana by-products preparation for usage in the food industry does not require excessive treatment as compared with other fruits by-products with potent hazardous constituents [89]. Banana peel extracts are rich in antioxidant capacity using multiple antioxidant assays. These peels are helpful in exhibiting antimicro-

**Products Maturity/cultivars Effects on antioxidant activity References**

Raw/*Musa cavendish* Yielded more polyphenols and exhibit

Raw/Musa AAA *Cavendish* Increased antioxidant activity, including

phenolic content

high antioxidant capacity

radical scavenging capacity

Raw Exhibit antimicrobial activity [90]

radicals of orange juice

ferric-reducing power and superoxide

Increased capacity to scavenge free

[86]

[88]

[87]

[93]

Pasta Raw/*Musa paradisiaca* Increased indigestible fraction and total

Banana is a very common fruit in most continents of the world and is consumed essentially as food. It is the fifth most significant food source with respect to world trade. Banana has more than a few bioactives which include biogenic amines, phenolics, phytosterols and carotenoids [46, 93]. These compounds are of immense benefit to consumers due to countless positive effects they have on human health (**Table 4**). The positive effects of these compounds on human health is expected because they have antioxidative properties, hence they are efficient in reducing oxidative stresses. Banana pulp has been reported to have high anti-tumour and antioxidant potentials [57]. Consumption of bananas is advantageous to body muscles due to its high content of K. Banana is usually suggested for patients suffering from anaemia due owing to its high content of Fe. Banana is low in Na, hence it helps in regulating blood pressure [46]. The presence of syringic acid in banana was reported [92]. This compound has an antidiabetic effect and could be used in managing glycoprotein abnormalities [92]. The consumption of catechin rich banana can help build up resistance to oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), brachial artery dilation, increase plasma antioxidant activity and fat oxidation [94]. The gallic acid in banana was reported to exhibit hepatoprotective effects [95]. Serotonin in banana helps to avoid depression by altering mood and calming the body. The consumption of carotenoid rich banana is also effective in the treatment of vitamin A deficiency disorders and chronic diseases [39]. Dopamine and ascorbic acid present in banana is useful in reduction of plasma oxidative stress and enhancement of resistance to oxidative modification of LDL [56, 96]. In many

bial activity against a wide range of bacteria and fungi [92].

**5. Health benefits associated with banana bioactives**

**36**

*Bioactive compounds present in banana and their utilisation.*

animal trials, banana has been shown to be useful in the treatment of diabetes, due to its antihyperglycemic effect [97]. Banana is also utilised as a source of energy for sports athletes as it forms a valuable constituent in various energy drinks and dried banana bars [1]. Consumption of the fruit has also been used in the prevention of muscular contractions in athletes due to its vitamins, K and Mg contents [1].
